An amazing
feature of Indian traditional clothing is that it varies in different states,
depending on the local culture, religion, climate, and settings (rural or
urban). These forms are adorned with spectacular colors and patterns. India is
a land with diverse fabrics, colors and weaves. This article brings you the
most common traditional Indian clothing worn by women across the country. One
can buy traditional
clothes online, just from the comfort of their homes.
Saree
Saree, also known
as sari, is a piece of 4 to 9 meter long unstitched cloth which is draped
beautifully around and over the body. It is worn with a tailored blouse and a
petticoat. This clothing is widely worn across the country by both urban and
rural women. With the variation in
geographical locations, the draping style of sarees vary. The typical saree
draping trend involves wrapping one end of it around the waist and draping the
other end over the shoulder in beautiful pleates.
Sarees in a wide
range of colors, patterns, designs, and embroideries overflow in the market.
Blouses too are stitched in various styles according to wish of the wearer.
Salwar Kameez
The Salwar Kameez is
the common female wear in the Northern parts of the country. It is the typical
wear of women in states like Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. This
garment contains three parts- a salwar, a kameez, and a dupatta. The salwar is
a loose trouser which narrows at the ankles; the kameez is a tunic or long shirt; and the dupatta is a long
scarf which covers the bosom or is draped around the shoulder and the head. This
dress is referred to as the “Punjabi suit” in Southern India. This dress
is commonly worn by teenage girls and women across the country.
The dupatta worn
with the salwar and kameez is also used as a fashion accessory. The material
used for making the suit can be chiffon, silk, cotton, georgette, linen,
etc.
Ghagra
Choli
Ghagra Choli, also known as Lehenga
Choli, is the traditional dress of Northern Indian states including Rajasthan,
Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. The lehenga is a long, pleated and embroidered
skirt. The choli is a short
blouse worn also paired with sarees. It is tightly fitting, and has a low neck
and short sleeves. A dupatta is drapped around the body with one end tuck into
the skirt. It is pinned to the shoulder over the choli just like that of a
saree.
Different styles
of ghagra cholis are available. There are the daily wears made from cotton,
completely embroidered ones for marriage functions, and the embellished ones
for festivals. Now-a-days, with so many ecommerce outlets out there, you can buy traditional clothes online.
Kurti
Kurti, also known
as kurta, is a long blouse or shirt that runs down till the waist or even below
the knees. This are used as office wears and casual wears. Often times, kurtis
are worn with a dupatta. A kurti is usually paired with churidar pants which
are narrow throughout the leg, or salwar pants which are trousers that are
narrow at the ankles and get wider as they reach the thighs. Kurtis are also
paired with jeans or leggings. Kurtis at times have two sewn openings on both
the sides.
As mentioned earlier, Indian clothing for women
is diverse. It is not limited to the above mentioned four. There are the Mekhla
- Chadars of Assam, the Damaan - Kurti – Chunder of Haryana, the Chaaniya - Choli
- Odhani of Gujarat, the Phulkari of Punjab, the mundum neriyathum of Kerala, the Pheran of Kashmir, and many more. One
can buy
traditional clothes online for themselves or for their friends or
relatives as priceless gifts.
